Armed man takes hostages in Paris

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Armed man takes hostages in Paris

PARIS — At least two people were reportedly taken hostage in Paris on Tuesday, CNN affiliate BFMTV reported.

The Paris Police Prefecture confirmed to CNN that there was “a police intervention” underway at Rue des Petites Ecuries in the 10th arrondissement of the French capital. Law enforcement officials cordoned off the area.

Videos and images circulating on social media show several police vehicles as well as heavily armed officers at the scene.

Authorities said that officers from a specialist unit had arrived on site in response to an “unstable person” who was holding two people.

The police said there was no indication that the incident was terrorism-related, but declined to elaborate on the hostage-taker’s motive.

France has been in a state of high alert following a series of terror attacks in recent years, including a knife-wielding assailant who went on a stabbing rampage in Paris last month.